EPA Measures to Protect Pollinators from Pesticides

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1 EPA Measures to Protect Pollinators from Pesticides Michael Goodis Director, Registration Division Office of Pesticide Programs CLA/RISE Conference April 6, 2017

2 Outline EPA s Policy to Mitigate Acute Risk to Bees State and Tribal Pollinator Protection Plans PPDC Workgroup on Metrics 2

3 Presidential Directive to Improve Pollinator Health On June 20, 2014, President Obama issued a memorandum calling on Federal agencies to increase and coordinate their efforts to improve bee health by developing an integrated strategy EPA committed to, among other things: Restrict the use of products toxic to bees in crops with commercial pollination Engage State and tribal partners in the development of managed pollinator protection plans U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 3

4 Proposal to Mitigate Acute Risk to Bees Proposal was released for public comment in May 2015 Addressed acute contact exposure to foliar pesticide applications Over 113,000 comments received Two Mitigation Strategies: 1. Label Restrictions for Contract Pollination Services 2. State and Tribal Managed Pollinator Protection Plans (MP3s) for Bee Colonies Not under Contract Pollination Services

5 Final Acute Mitigation Policy EPA s Policy to Mitigate the Acute Risk to Bees from Pesticide Products - issued January 12, 2017 EPA revised the policy in response to comments Prohibits pesticide applications under certain conditions Also provides some flexibility for growers in some circumstances 5

6 Label Restrictions for Contract Pollination Services Policy Summary Policy only applies to products that meet the following criteria: (i) Products with outdoor foliar uses; (ii) Products that are registered for crops that may use pollination services; and, (iii) Products with uses that have application rates that exceed the EPA Tier I acute risk Level of Concern (LOC) for bees. Label restrictions only apply when: (i) The target crop is in bloom; (ii) A contract exists for pollination services to the target crop; and, (iii) Managed bees are present under contract for pollination services to the target crop. Policy allows for (flexibility): (i) Night-time applications of products with a Residual Toxicity time (RT25) of 6 hours or less; (ii) Night-time applications to crops that have an indeterminate blooming period; and, (iii) Applications to indeterminate blooming crops when the temp. at the site is 50 o or less.

7 Label Restrictions for Contract Pollination Services Label Language FOR FOLIAR APPLICATIONS OF THIS PRODUCT TO A CROP WHERE BEES ARE UNDER CONTRACT TO POLLINATE THAT CROP: Foliar application of this product is prohibited to a crop from onset of flowering until flowering is complete when bees are under contract for pollination services to that crop unless the application is made to prevent or control a threat to public and/or animal health as determined by a state, tribal, authorized local health department or vector control agency.

8 Policy Establishes Revised Environmental Hazards Statement EPA responsive to comments from SFIREG: current Environmental Hazards Language was viewed as: written in a manner that is directive too broad in scope as to supersede specific pollinator protection language virtually unenforceable Revised Environmental Hazard Language for Pollinating Insects: This product is [moderately/highly] toxic to bees and other pollinating insects exposed to direct treatment or to residues in/on blooming crops or weeds. Protect pollinating insects by following label directions intended to minimize drift and reduce pesticide risk to these organisms.

9 State and Tribal Pollinator Protection Plans for Bee Colonies Not under Contract Pollination Services EPA continues to encourage development of MP3/P3s for states and tribes EPA, USDA, NASDA and HBHC sponsored a symposium in March 2016 for stakeholders to share the tools, insights and relationships to develop MP3 plans Approximately 130 participants including states, tribes, pesticide manufacturers, beekeepers, and agricultural organizations States have engaged stakeholders (growers, applicators and beekeepers) in development of MP3s Most states have finalized, are still constructing or intend to develop a plan Tribal Nations have begun to work with the Tribal Pesticide Program Council (TPPC) to develop P3s with a focus on native pollinators At least 10 tribes have are will be developing plans

10 State and Tribal Pollinator Protection Plans for Bee Colonies Not under Contract Pollination Services Common Objectives for MP3s: Reduce pesticide exposure through enhanced communication and collaboration among stakeholders Promote positive working relationships among beekeepers, landowners, and pesticide applicators Utilize specific Best Management Practices (BMPs) to target state-specific problems (e.g., timing of pesticide applications and/or identification of hives near treated areas)

11 How Do States and EPA Evaluate the Effectiveness of Plans? Some state MP3s include metrics; a subset of those states have begun to try surveys SFIREG/AAPCO have guidance for individual states EPA needs a means to collectively evaluate the individualized, statespecific approaches to pollinator protection

12 Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee (PPDC) PPDC is a broadly representative federal advisory committee that meets with EPA biannually to discuss pesticide regulatory, policy and program implementation issues Website: Workgroup formed to: 1) develop recommendations for how to evaluate the effectiveness of state and tribal pollinator protection plans at the national level, and 2) formulate a strategy to communicate that effectiveness to the public.

13 PPDC Pollinator Protection Plans Metrics Workgroup Goal: Make final recommendations for evaluating effectiveness of MP3/P3s collectively to the full PPDC by fall of PPDC Pollinator Protection Plans Metrics Workgroup: 21 Workgroup members represent diverse group of stakeholders: beekeepers (3), growers (2), industry (3), environmental groups (4), trade associations (4), tribal nation (1), and state agencies (4) Meetings: October 2016 October 2017 monthly call-in meetings; in-person meetings coincide with full PPDC meetings November 2016, May 3-4, 2017 and November 8-9, 2017

14 PPDC Workgroup - Subgroup Work Plan Define Problem States and Tribal Nations are working with diverse stakeholder groups to develop regionally-specific plans to promote health of pollinators Plans are directed toward reducing exposure of bees to pesticides and to develop local mitigation measures to reduce need for federal regulations Individual plans include metrics for evaluating success; however, EPA must develop metrics for evaluating the success of plans on a national basis Design Proposal What is the scope of each of the state/tribal pollinator protection plan Does each plan identify metrics for evaluating success Evaluate Are there areas of commonality across State/Tribal plans for which national-level metrics can be developed Are each of the plans sufficiently comprehensive (e.g., outreach/communication between growers/beekeepers) How do pollinator protection plans improve pollinator health Decide Identify specific metrics to recommend to the PPDC Do metrics require states/tribes to collect additional information (e.g., documentation of education efforts) Has understanding/communication between stakeholders been increased Has exposure to pesticides been reduced Has overall honey bee health been improved Apply Develop strategy to communicate national-level metrics to the broader public Identify possible time line for evaluating metrics Identify process for providing states/tribes feedback on success

15 Next Steps Implement Final Policy through registration actions and registration review Continue support of state MP3s and tribal pollinator protection plans Continue support of PPDC workgroup on metrics

16 QUESTIONS?

Pollinator Protection Plans

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1 Pollinator Protection Plans Marietta Echeverria Office of Pesticide Programs U.S. Environmental Protection Agency May, 2015 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2